Troy blows 16-point lead then recovers to beat Western Kentucky 54-48 in Sun Belt semifinals

Troy recovers to defeat Western Kentucky 54-48

HOT SPRINGS, Ark. — Richard Delk made a 3-pointer from the right wing with 13.2 seconds left, and top-seeded Troy scored the game’s final seven points for a 54-48 win over two-time defending tournament champion Western Kentucky in the Sun Belt Conference semifinals Monday night.

Troy will face North Texas in Tuesday’s title game.

The Trojans (20-11) blew a 16-point lead and fell behind 48-47 on a 3-pointer by Western Kentucky’s A.J. Slaughter. Delk then scored off an offensive rebound to put Troy back in the lead. With Troy ahead 51-48 and the shot clock running down, Delk faked Western Kentucky’s Steffphon Pettigrew in the air, stepped to the left and made his big 3-pointer that put the game away.

Pettigrew led the Hilltoppers (21-13) with 14 points.

Brandon Hazzard scored 17 points for the Trojans, all in the first half.